Casing hanger apparatus



United States Patent [72] Inventor John A. Haeber Ventura, California [21] App]. No. 778,404

[22] Filed Nov. 25, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 1, 1970 [73] Assignee Vetco Offshore Industries, Inc.

Ventura, California a corporation of California [54'] CASING HANGER APPARATUS 38 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl l66/.6, 166/115, 166/208 [51] Int. Cl. ..E2lb 33/035, E2lb 33/12, E2lb 43/10 [50] Field ofSearch 166/.5, .6, 88, 1 15, 208

Primary Examiner.lames A. Leppink AttorneyBernard Kriegel ABSTRACT: Casing hanger apparatus for running, landing, cementing and packing-off a casing string in an underwater well. A running tool connected to a casing hanger has cylinder and piston members to which fluid pressure is applied to release the running tool from the hanger after the latter is landed in a casing head. A packing assembly is actuated to pack-off the annulus between the hanger and casing head after the casing suspended from the hanger is cemented in place, the pack-off being consummated by forcing dogs outwardly into a tapered groove of the casing head, which also lock the casing hanger in place.

Patented Dec. 1,1970 3,543,847

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CASING HANGER APPARATUS The present invention relates to oil and gas well casing hanger assemblies and associated running tools, and more particularly to apparatus for running, landing, cementing and packing-off a casing string in an underwater well.

I-Ieretofore, casing has been installed in a well through use of a running tool that is threadedly connected to the casing hanger body. Circulating fluid and cement slurry have been pumped through the running string from the rig floor and through the casing string for the purpose of cementing the easing string in place. Thereafter, the running string and running too] have been rotated to effect a disconnection between the left-hand threads of the running tool and the companion lefthand threads in the hanger body. In addition, it has been desired to pack-off the casing string after the cementing operation has been completed. Such pack-off has been effected heretofore by rotating the running string in order to effect shortening and compression of an elastomer packing member between the casing hanger body and associated housing or hanger body which surrounds it. The casing has been run in the well bore to the extent at which its hanger body rests upon a supporting shoulder in the surrounding housing, to which the hanger body has been locked after the landing has been effected. Accordingly, if it is desired to remove the casing hanger body and easing string therefrom prior to cementing of the casing in place, difiiculty is encountered since some means must be provided for first releasing the lock.

The above-noted type of apparatus, and similar apparatus which requires rotation of the running string in effecting its operation, presents serious problems, particularly in un derwater wells and in connection with operations from a floating drilling vessel.- Oftentimes, high torques must be imposed on therunning string in securing its threaded disconnection from the hanger body, and such high torques may also be encountered in securing a pack-off between the hanger body and the surrounding housing. Galling of the threads because of the high axial loading thereon, either tensile or compressive often results. If a successful pack-off between the hanger body and surrounding casing is not achieved, it is difficult to remove the packing assembly and run another one in its place.

By virtue of the apparatus embodying the present invention, the aforenoted difficulties are overcome. The running tool is releasably connected to the casing hanger body, which is also true of the pack-off assembly. The hanger body is landed on a supporting shoulder in the surrounding housing or casing hanger body without locking the hanger body in place. The running tool is releasable from the hanger body, after the latter has been landed in place, and the packoff accomplished without the the necessity for rotating the running string. The pack-off can be accomplished immediately after completing the cementing operation and during the time that the cement is still in a liquid phase, which insures that the packing element can be expanded into sealing engagement with the sealing surfaces of the hanger body and surrounding housing, despite the fact that liquid cement is still present in such space, since it will merely force the liquid cement out of the required sealing space. The hanger body and the packing assembly are locked in place after the cementing operation and pack-off have been effected, and not before the cementing action has occurred, making it possible to pull the casing string from the well, if desired. In the event that a successful pack-off is not achieved, the entire packing assembly and locking mechanism can be readily removed from the surrounding housing and replaced with a new assembly. Thus, all of the prior difficulties are avoided with the present invention, while a large force is available for securing an appropriate pack-off and for firmly locking both the packing assembly and the hanger body in place.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other purposes which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: FIGS. la and lb together constitute a quarter longitudinal section through apparatus embodying the invention, with cer- V tain parts in their initial retracted positions, FIG. lb being a lower continuation of FIG. 1a;

FIGS. 20 and 2b are views similar to FIGS. la and lb, with certain parts in another relative position;

FIG. 3 is a partial view corresponding to FIGS. la and lb, with certain parts in still another relative position;

FIG. 4 is a quarter longitudinal section illustrating assembly of the apparatus on the derrick floor;

FIG. 5 is a cross section, on a reduced scale, taken along the line 5-5 on FIG. la;

FIG. 6 is a cross section, on a reduced scale, taken along the line 6-6 on FIG. la; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section, on a'reduced scale, taken along the line 7-7 on FIG. 1a.

A casing hanger apparatus A is disclosed in the drawings for lowering from the floor of a drilling rig (not shown), such as may be disposed on a drilling vessel floating in a body of water, on a tubular running string of drill pipe B, or the like, connected to a running too] C, which, in turn, is releasably connected to the casing hanger apparatus. This combination is lowered to a casing head D, which may be fixed at the floor of the ocean from which a well bore has been drilled to a desired depth, and which may have settherein a previously installed casing hanger apparatus AA, which is disclosedin FIGS. 1b, 2b and 3 as locked in packed-off condition. This previously set casing hanger apparatus AA illustrates the set condition of the casing hanger apparatus A to be installed in the well bore, and more particularly within its previously installed housing D.

The casing hanger apparatus A is illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b in its initial condition for lowering from the drilling rig to the casing head D. In underwater wells, such lowering normally takes place through a marine conductor pipe (not shown), the

apparatus passing through one or more blowout preventers (not shown) suitably installed at the lower end of the marine conductor pipe and immediately above the housing D. Such general organization of marine conductor pipe, blowout preventers, and previously installed housing or casing hangers are well known in the art, and, for that reason, are not illustrated herein.

The casing-hanger A includes a hanger body I0, the lower end of which is threadedly secured to the upper end of a string of well casing E to be lowered into the well bore to the desired depth. This body is releasably secured to the running too] C by a plurality of circumferentially spaced dogs or latches 11 extending within radial openings 12 in the upper portion of a dog cage 13 Surrounding a running tool mandrel or body 14, the upper end of which is secured to the lower end of the drill pipe B, or other tubular running string. A retaining ring 13a is secured to the cage 13 by cap screws 15a to retain the dogs in their radial openings 12. The dog cage has a shoulder 15 engaging a companion shoulder 16 on the mandrel, being held upwardly thereagainst by a suitable retaining ring 17 threaded on the mandrel and abutting the lower end of the cage, inadvertent unscrewing of the retaining ring being prevented by a setscrew 18. The dogs have external V-shaped teeth 19 received within companion internal V-shaped grooves 20 in the upper portion of the hanger body 10, the dogs being locked outwardly in such grooves by a retainer sleeve 21 in the form of a cylinder having a lower cylinder sleeve 22 slidable along a lower annular piston 23 forming an upper part of the dog cage 13. The cylinder has an intermediate cylinder head 24 engaging the periphery of the mandrel above the lower piston 23, and a cylinder sleeve portion 25 extending upwardly from the head and slidable along an upper piston portion 26 of the running tool mandrel 14.

It will be noted that the sleeve 21 is urged to its downward position by a plurality of longitudinally extending helical compression springs 27, the upper ends of which bear against the flanges 28 of guide and centering pins 29 threadedly secured to the mandrel l4 and extending through the springs and into longitudinal guide holes or bores 30 in the dog shifting and retaining sleeve 21. The lower end of each spring 27 engages the base 31 of a counterbore 32 in the upper part of the shifting sleeve 21, in order to urge the shifting sleeve in a downward direction, in which the lower cylinder sleeve 22 is disposed behind the lower portions of the dogs 11, the intermediate portion 24 of the sleeve having a larger external diameter than the lower portion and also being adapted to engage behind the upper part 110 of the dogs or latches when they are expanded outwardly with their teeth 19 received within the hanger body grooves 20. When the sleeve 21 is in an upper position along the mandrel 14 and the dog cage 13, the dogs 11 can shift inwardly to the extent limited by engagement of their upper portions with the lower part of a cylinder sleeve 22, as disclosed in FIGS. 2a and 3, at which time the teeth 19 are completely removed from the hanger body grooves 20, which is a released condition of the running tool C from the hanger body When the sleeve 21 is shifted downwardly by the springs 27 or by hydraulic pressure (as described hereinbelow), the lower end 34 of the sleeve engages tapered surfaces 35 on the dogs to shift them outwardly and to bring their teeth 19 fully within the hanger body grooves 20, the sleeve then continuing downwardly along the dogs until they are in the locked condition disclosed in F161. la.

As described hereinbelow, fluid pressure can enter the lower cylinder space 36 between the cylinder head 24 and lower piston 23 through a plurality of ports 37in the running tool mandrel, for the purpose of shifting the sleeve 21 up wardly along the mandrel 14, or to a dog-releasing condition. As described hereinbelow, fluid pressure can also enter an uppercylinder space 38 between the cylinder head 24 and the upper piston 26 through mandrel ports 39 to shift the sleeve 21 downwardly along the mandrel, for the purpose of expanding the dogs 11 outwardly into their locked condition with the hanger body 10. Leakage of fluid from the lower cylinder space 36 is prevented by a seal ring 40 on the mandrel engaging the inner surface of the dog cage 13, by a seal ring 41 on the lower piston 23 slidably and sealingly engaging the inner wall of the lower cylinder sleeve 22, by a seal ring 42 on the cylinder head 24 sealingly engaging the periphery of the mandrel l4 behind the ports 37, 39, and by a seal ring 43 on the upper piston 26 sealingly engaging the inner surface of their sleeve 25 above the upper cylinder space 38.

The dogs or latches 11 are slidably held in there radial openings 12 in the dog cage by the retainer ring and plurality of cap screws a previously described. The dog cage 13 has an upwardly extending rim 44 and the retainer ring has a downwardly extending rim 45 partly overlapping the lower and upper portions, respectively, of the dogs 11 to limit the extent of their movement outwardly of the dog cage 13, and with their teeth 19 projecting laterally beyond the dog cage.

The hanger apparatus includes a packing and packing expanding structure 46 carried initially by the running tool C.

This structure includes an upper locking sleeve 47 having in-,

ternal circumferential grooves 48 and which is threadedly secured to an upper backup ring 49. This sleeve extends into an annular space 50 in a dog cage 51 and has an external flange 52 underlying a shoulder 53 on the dog cage, so that the dog cage 51 is suspended from the sleeve 47. The dog cage carries a packing sleeve 54 of elastomer material suitably secured to an upper abutment portion 55 of the cage, there being a lower ring or abutment portion 56 suitably secured to the lower end of the packing sleeve. Also carried in the dog j cage 51 are circumferentially spaced dogs or latches 57 which are movable in radial openings 58 in the outer portion of the cage, these dogs being shiftable in a lateral outward direction by the dog shifting and locking sleeve 47, the lower end of which engages upper tapered or expander surfaces 59 on the latches-57 to shift the latter outwardly upon downward movement of the sleeve 47 within the dog cage, the sleeve having a surface 60 inclined to a small extent to the vertical and which is adapted to engage a companion inclined surface 61 on the lower portions of the dog latches for the purpose of additionally shifting the latter outwardly and locking them in their outward condition. The dogs 57 are shifted outwardly of the cage 51 and into a V-shaped internal groove 62 in the housing D, as explained hereinbelow, each dog having an upper tapered surface 63 adapted to engage the upper tapered wall 64 of the housing groove, for the purpose of being cammed therealong to lock the apparatus A to the housing D and to further compress the packing element 54 against its companion sealing surfaces.

The packing assembly and actuating structure 46 is initially carried bythe running toolbody 14. As specifically illustrated, an upper body member 65 is threadedly secured to the running tool mandrel 14, there being a spacer block cage 66 secured to the lower end of the upper body 65 by a plurality of longitudinal cap screws 67 extending through the cage 66 and threaded into the upper body, the cage bearing against a flange portion 68 of the mandrel to which the spring guide pins 29 are threadedly attached. The spacer block cage 66 and the body 65 thereabove have the cap screws 67 and longitudinal holes or passages 69 extending therethrough between radial slots 70 in the spacer block cage in which spacer blocks 71 are slidably received. These blocks are urged outwardly by springs 72, the inner ends of which bear against the cage 66 and the outer ends of which bear against the spacer blocks, urging the latter outwardly to the extent limited by engagement of the spacer blocks 71 with an upper depending lip or rim 73 on the upper body 65 and with a lower lip or rim 74 on the spacer block cage. When so expanded, outer lug portions 75 on each spacer block project into an internal circumferential groove 76 defined between the upper, inner end 77 of the latch dog cage 51 and an opposed shoulder 78 on the dog locking sleeve 47 below its internal circumferential grooves 48. With the parts in this condition, a tapered shoulder 79 on the upper body 65 is disposed immediately above a companion tapered shoulder 80 on the dog locking sleeve.

As described hereinbelow, when the running tool C can move downwardly of the hanger body 10, the packing assembly and its actuating device move downwardly therewith until lower tapered surfaces 81 on the spacer blocks 71 engage a companion tapered surface 82 on the upper extension 83 of the hanger body, which will shift the blocks 71 inwardly against the force of their springs 72 to the extent at which axially extending control pins 84 carried in longitudinal bores 85 in the upper body 65 are shifted downwardly into the cage openings 70 and across vertical shoulders 86 on the spacer blocks, to retain the latter in their retracted position uncoupled from the packing assembly and its actuating mechanism 46. The pins 84 are shifted downwardly by helical compression springs 87 bearing thereagainst and against plugs 88 threaded into threaded bores 89 in the upper body 65. Retracted helical springs 90 are also mounted in the longitudinal bores 85 in the upper body, bearing thereagainst and also against the upper heads 91 of the control pins 84. The upper springs 87 exert a much greater force than the lower springs 90 and, therefore, are constantly urging the control pins 84 in a downward direction. However, the threaded plugs 88 can be threaded upwardly to the extent determined by their engagement with split snaprings 93 received in grooves 94 in the upper body surrounding .the longitudinal holes 85, at which time there is substantially no compressive force remaining in the upper springs 87 which then permit the lower springs 90 to shift the control pins 84 upwardly and out of retaining engagement with the spacer block shoulders 86.

The casing hanger 10, packing assembly 54-56, and shifting device 51, 47, etc. therefore are secured to the running tool C, the appropriate length of casing string E extending downwardly from the hanger body 10,'the main length of the casing string being run in the well bore underlying the body of water before the uppermost casing section is attached to the hanger body. The parts are then in the relative positions illustrated in FIGS. 1a, lb. The running string B is secured to the mandrel l4, and the combination is lowered from the drilling vessel through the marine conductor pipe (not shown) and through the blowout preventers (not shown) until a downwardly facing shoulder 100 on the casing hanger engages the upper portion of the previously installed hanger assembly AA, shown in FIG. lb. More specifically, it engages the upper end 80 of the dog locking sleeve 47 which functions as a landing seat. At this time, the locking dogs 57 are located a certain distance above the groove 62 in the housing D surrounding both the lower casing hanger assembly AA and the one being installed in the housing. With the upper hanger assembly A in the position illustrated in FIGS. la, lb, cementing operations are commenced by pumping circulating fluid, followed by a required charge of cement slurry, through the drill pipe running string B and the bore 101 of the mandrel, the circulating path proceeding down through the casing string E, out of its shoe (not shown), and back up the annulus surrounding the casing E, the fluid flowing through the holes or passages 102 provided in the hanger body into the space 103 between the body and the housing D and upwardly through the longitudinal grooves 104 in the exterior of the hanger body 10 into an annular space 105 thereabove between an external seal surface 106 on the hanger body and an internal seal surface 107 on the housing, the fluid continuing its path of flow through holes 108 in the upper extension 83 into the annulus 109 between such extension and the cylinder sleeve 25, the fluid continuing to flow through the longitudinal holes 69 in the spacer block cage 66 and the upper body 65 into the annulus 110 surrounding the running string B and back to the rig floor.

After cementing operations have been completed, the running tool C is released from the hanger body 10. Such release is effected by lowering or dropping a releasing dart 111 down through the running string, this dart having an upper shoulder 112 which comes to rest upon a companion shoulder 113 in the mandrel 14 (FIGS. 20, 2b). This dart has a longitudinal inlet passage 114 extending from its upper portion to a port 115, which then is in communication with the lower mandrel ports 37, there being a bleeder passage 116 in the dart opening through its lower end and communicating with the upper mandrel ports 39. Upper, intermediate and lower seal rings 1 17 on the dart sealingly engage with the inner wall of the mandrel 14 above and below the upper ports 39, as well as below the lower ports 37. Pressure is then applied to the fluid in the running string B at the rig floor, this fluid pressure being exerted on the fluid in the inlet passage 114, ports 37 and the lower cylinder chamber 36 to drive the cylinder 21 upwardly against the force of the biasing springs 27 until the sleeve reaches its upper dog releasing condition disclosed in FIGS. 2a, 2b. During upward movement of the cylinder, the fluid in the upper chamber 38 can exhaust through the ports 39 and passage 116 into the mandrel passage 101 below the dart 111. The running tool dogs 11 are now free to shift inwardly of the dogcage 13, with their teeth 19 moved out of locking engagement within the hanger body grooves 20, which permits the running too! C to be lowered by the drill pipe B downwardly with respect to the hanger body 10.

The tubular running string 8 and running tool C, with the packing assembly and packing actuator mechanism 46 carried thereby, are now lowered, the packing assembly 56, 54, 55 shifting into the annular space 105 between the sealing surfaces 106, 107 until the lower abutment 56 engages an upwardly facing shoulder 118 on the hanger body 10. During such downward movement, the tapered retracting surfaces 81 on the spacer blocks 71 engage the upper end 82 of the hanger body extension 83, which shifts the spacer blocks inwardly against the force of the compression springs 72, until the upper lock surfaces 86 on the blocks are disposed in inwardly of the control pins 84, whereupon the latter are urged downwardly along such surfaces to retain the spacer blocks in their retracted positions in which their outer lug portions 75 are removed from the internal groove 76 defined between the locking sleeve shoulder 78 and the upper end 77 of the dog or latch cage 51 (FIG. 2a). At this time, the packing assembly and the lock and shifting mechanism 46 have been moved downwardly along the hanger body 10 and along the housing D to a location at which the dogs 57 are disposed in alinement with the internal groove 62 in the housing, the dog locking sleeve 47 being free to move downwardly with respect to the packing cage assembly 51. A downward force or weight is then imposed by the running string B and mandrel 14, which is transmitted through the upper body 65 and through the shoulders 79, 80 to the dog locking sleeve 47, shifting the latter downwardly within the cage 51 and behind the dogs 57, forcing the latter into the housing groove 62 (FIG. 2a). As this action progresses, the lower abutment 56 of the packing assembly has been engaged with the body shoulder 118, the cage 51 moving downwardly towards the lower abutment and shortening the packing element 54 to expand it inwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with the external sea] surface 106 on the hanger body 10 and the internal seal surface 107 of the housing. When so engaged, the annulus is closed against the passage of fluid.

The pipe rams in the blowout preventer stack (not shown), which are fixed to and with respect to the housing D in a known manner, are then closed and fluid pressure applied to the annulus 110 surrounding the mandrel l4 and lower portion of the running string B through the choke or kill line of the blowout preventer stack (not shown). Such fluid under pressure cannot move downwardly of the apparatus, since the dog cage 13 carries a seal ring 1 l9 slidably sealing against the inner wall of the hanger body 10, and because of the fact that the pipe rams in the blowout preventer stack are closed around the running string. Accordingly, the applied pressure creates a downward force on the running tool C equal to the unit fluid pressure times the difference in the area of the diameter of the sealing surface of the dog cage seal ring 119 against the inner wall of the hanger body and the area of the diameter of the running string B around which the pipe rams are closed. This force is transmitted from the running tool to the dog locking sleeve 47. Since the lower abutment 56 engages the shoulder 118 of the hanger body and the packing 54 has been expanded into engagement with the external and internal sealing surfaces 106, 107, the cage 51 cannot readily be shifted downwardly, resulting in downward movement of the dog locking sleeve 47 along the cage and along the expander surfaces 59, 61 of the dogs 57, urging the latter fully outwardly into the groove 62 and sliding the tapered surfaces 63 of the dogs along the upper tapered surface 64 of the groove 62, which effects a downward shifting of the dogs 57 within the groove 62, the lower end of the dogs being in contact with the cage 51 to shift the cage downwardly and move its upper abutment 55 closer to the lower abutment 56, thereby further shortening the packing element 54 and expanding it against the external seal surface 106 of the hanger body 10 and the internal seal surface 107 of the housing D.

The casing setting operation has now been completed, with the dog locking sleeve 47 not only effecting a firmer sealing of the packing against its opposed sealing surfaces, but also retaining the dogs 57 locked outwardly in the housing groove 62, effecting a secure lock of the packing assembly and of the hanger body 10 in the housing D. The casing hanging and setting operation has now been completed, and the running string B may be elevated to pull the running tool C out of the housing D and to the drilling rig.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a casing and casing hanger have been run in the well, the cementing operation performed, and the running tool released from the hanger body, as well as from the packing assembly, all without any rotation having been imparted to any portions of the apparatus. The casing hanger is merely landed in place, but is not locked into place until the cementing operation has been completed and the hanger body 10 packed-off against the surrounding housing D. Such pack-off occurs while the cement is still in a liquid phase,

so that the pack-ofi' operation can be successfully completed despite the fact that some of such liquid cement might be disposed in the annular space 105 between the sealing surfaces 106, 107. The locking of the assembly A to the housing occurs only after assurance is bad that an appropriate pack-off has taken place.

In the event a successful pack-off is not achieved, the entire packing and locking sleeve assembly 46 can be withdrawn by lowering a suitable tool (not shown) towards the well head and latching it to thedog locking sleeve 47, as by having latching elements of such tool received within the internal grooves 48 in the locking sleeve; whereupon an upward pull can be taken on the locking sleeve to move it upwardly within the dog cage 51 and from its position behind the dogs or latches 57. The sleeve flange 52 will engage the shoulder 53 on the cage to lift the latter upwardly, the tapered surfaces 63 of the dogs engaging the upper tapered surface 64 of the housing groove 62 and being shifted inwardly to their retracted position. The elevation of the cage 51 will allow the packing element 54 to retract inherently to its initial condition, whereupon the entire packing and locking dog assembly 46 is free from the housing D and the hanger body 10, and can be elevated to the rig floor.

in assembling the casing hanger 10 to the running tool C, or prior to running the next string of casing in the well, the running too] C is installed in the casing hanger 10 by forcing the spacer blocks 71 inwardly against the spacer block biasing springs 72, until the control pins 84 are shifted downwardly by the springs 87 to their locked position behind the retracted blocks. The running tool releasing dart 111 is then inserted in the mandrel l4 and landed on the mandrel shoulder 113. Hydraulic pressure is then applied and retained in the bore 101 of the mandrel above the dart, which will shift the cylinder sleeve 21 upwardly against the force of the springs 27 or to the position in which the mandrel dogs 11 are retracted.

The packing cage assembly 46 is placed in an elevated position with respect to the hanger body 10 by inserting a spacer bar (not shown) between the lower end of the packing abutment 56 and the hanger body shoulder 118. The dog locking sleeve 47 is also moved to its initial elevated position with respect to the latch cage 51 by inserting a spacer bar (not shown) between the upper end of the cage and the lower end of the backup ring 49, which, of course, will hold the locking sleeve 47 in its upper position in which its flange 52 is closely adjacent to the cage shoulder 53.

The running tool C is then lowered into the casing hanger l and assembly 46 until the upper body shoulder 79 engages the upper end 80 of the dog locking sleeve 47. The pressure is then released from the bore of the running tool body 14 above the dart 111, and the latter is removed. When the pressure is released, the biasing springs 27 will force the cylinder sleeve 21 downwardly, which will expand the running tool dogs 11 outwardly, with their teeth 19 fitting into the grooves 20 of the hanger body 10. However, if sufficient force is not provided by the biasing springs 27 to move the cylinder sleeve to its lower limit of travel, in which the dogs 11 are locked outwardly with their teeth 19 in the hanger body grooves 20, a running tool setting dart 120, shown in FIG. 4, is installed in the running tool body 14 with its upper shoulder 121 engaging the mandrel shoulder 113. This dart has a seal ring 122 engaging the inner wall of the mandrel between the upper and lower ports 39, 37, and it also has an inlet passage 123 extending from the upper end of the dart to a communicating position with the upper ports 39, there being a bleeder passage 124 extending from a position communicating with the lower ports 37 to the lower end of the dart. Pressure is then applied in the bore 101 of the mandrel 14 above the dart 120, such fluid pressure passing through the ports 39 to the upper chamber 38 and shifting the cylinder sleeve 21 downwardly to its fullest extent, whereupon the setting dart 120 is removed from the mandrel l4.

The control pin spacer plugs 88 are now threaded in an outward direction within the bores 89, until they engage the stop rings 93. In this position, the control pin biasing springs 87 have no spring force available, which permits the releasing springs to force the control pins 84 upwardly to a position released from the spacer blocks 71, permitting the spacer block biasing springs 72 to move the spacer blocks into the groove 76 formed between the dog locking sleeve 47 and the upper end 77 of the packing cage 51. The control pin spacer plugs 88 are then screwed back down within the threaded bores 89 to reenergize the springs 87 for exerting their downward force on the control pins 84.

The spacer bars (not shown) located between the body shoulder 118 and the lower abutment 56 and between the upper end of the cage 51 and the backup ring 49 are then removed, thereby placing the casing hanger assembly in condition for running toward the housing D with the casing string E suspended from the body 10.

I claim:

1. In casing hanger apparatus: a hanger body to which a casing string is connectable for running in a well bore, said body being supportable by a housing at the top of the well bore; a running too] connectable to a tubular running string, said running too] including first releasable means releasably connected to said hanger body for lowering said body into supported relation to the housing with the casing string suspended from said body; packing means for sealing between said body and the housing and initially disposed in a position out of sealing relation therewith; second releasable means releasably connecting said running tool to said packing means and retaining said packing means in said initial position; means for shifting said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; and lock means operative after shifting of said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing for locking said body to the housing and for retaining said packing means in said sealed relation.

2. ln apparatus as defined in claim 1: means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing.

3. In apparatus as defined in claim 1: means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; and means responsive to downward movement of said running too] for releasing said second releasable means.

4. In apparatus as defined in claim 1: and means for releasing said lock means to permit withdrawal of said packing means from its sealed relation to said body and housing.

5. ln apparatus as defined in claim 1: said lock means being supported by said packing means initially in retracted position; and means for expanding said lock means laterally outwardly into locking engagement with the housing.

6. ln apparatus as defined in claim 1: said lock means being supported by said packing means initially in retracted position; means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running too] from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; and means responsive to downward movement of said running tool for expanding said lock means laterally outwardly into locking engagement with said housing.

7. in apparatus as defined in claim I: said lock means being supported by said packing means initially in retracted position; means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; means responsive to downward movement of said running tool for expanding said lock means laterally outwardly into locking engagement with said housing; I

and means responsive to downward movement of said running tool for releasing said second releasable means.

8. ln apparatus as defined in claim 1: means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running too] from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; and means providing a sealed relation between said running tool and body to enable fluid pressure to be imposed on said running tool to cause said running tool to impose a downward force on said packing means to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing.

9. In a casing hanging assembly: a fixed housing; a hanger body to which a casing string is connectable for lowering in a well bore; means on said housing for supporting said body when said body is lowered therein; a running tool connectable to a tubular string, said running tool including first releasable means releasably connected to said hanger body for lowering said body into engagement with said housing supporting means; packing means for sealing between said body and housing and initially disposed in an upper position in nonsealing relation with respect thereto; second releasable means releasably supporting said packing means from said running too] in said upper position; initially retracted lock means lowered with said running tool, packing means and hanger body in said housing; means for shifting said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; and means for expanding said lock means laterally into locking engagement with said housing after shifting of said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing.

10. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove, said lock means being expanded laterally outwardly into said groove.

11. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove, the upper side of said groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing.

12. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said lock means being carried by said packing means.

13. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing.

14. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing, and means responsive to downward movement of said running tool for releasing said second releasable means.

15. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running too] to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; and means providing a sealed relation between said running tool and body to enable fluid pressure to be imposed on said running tool to cause said running tool to impose a downward force on said packing means to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing.

16. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove, the upper side of said groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; 'said lock means being carried by said packing means; means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and to aline said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove.

17. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove, the upper side of said groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; said lock means being carried by said packing means; means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and to aline said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove; said expanding means being shiftable downwardly by said running tool to expand said lock means outwardly into said groove.

18. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove, the upper side of said groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; said lock means being carried by said packing means; means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running too] from said body and permit said running tool to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and to aline said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove; said expanding means being shiftable downwardly by said running tool to expand said lock means outwardly into said groove; means providing a sealed relation between said running tool and body to enable fluid pressure to be imposed on said running tool to. cause said running tool to impose a downward force on said expanding means to force said lock means against said tapered side and force said packing means downwardly to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing.

19. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove, the upper side of said groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; said lock means being carried by said packing means; means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running too] to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and to aline said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove; and means responsive to downward movement of said running tool for releasing said second releasable means.

20. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove, the upper side of said groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; said lock means being carried by said packing means; means for effecting release of said first releasable means to free said running tool from said body and permit said running too] to lower said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and to aline said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove; said expanding means being shiftable downwardly by said running too] to expand said lock means outwardly into said groove; means providing a sealed relation between said running tool and body to enable fluid pressure to be imposed on said running tool to cause said running tool to impose a downward force on said expanding means to force said lock means against said tapered side and force said packing means downwardly to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; and means responsive to downward movement of said running tool for releasing said second releasable means.

21. In apparatus as defined in claim 9: said housing having a lock groove; said lock means comprising dogs expandable laterally outwardly into said groove.

22. In a casing hanging assembly: a fixed housing having a lock groove; a hanger body to which a casing string is connectable for lowering in a well bore; means on said housing for supporting said body when said body is lowered therein with said body and housing providing a fluid passage therebetween; a running tool connectable to a tubular string, said running too] including latch dogs and a shiftable sleeve behind said dogs holding said latch dogs releasably connected to said body; lock means including a supporting cage, lock dogs carried by said cage, and an actuating sleeve; a packing unit carried by said cage; said running too] further including releasable means releasably supporting said cage, lock dogs, actuating sleeve, and packing unit in an upper position when said body engages said supporting means with said packing unit disposed above said passage; means for moving said shiftable sleeve to a position permitting release of said latch dogs from said body and downward movement of said running tool relative to said body to move said packing unit into said passage in sealing relation to said housing and body and to aline said lock dogs with said housing groove; means releasing said releasable means in response to downward movement of said running tool relative to said body; and means on said running tool engaging said actuating sleeve to move said sleeve against said lock dogs and expand them outwardly into said groove.

23. in apparatus as defined in claim 22: said groove having an upper tapered side engaged by said lock dogs to exert a downward force on said packing unit increasing its sealing force against said housing and body.

24. In apparatus as defined in claim 22: said releasing means comprisingmeans on said body engaging and shifting said releasing means from supporting relation to said cage and actuating sleeve.

25. In apparatus as defined in claim 22: and means retaining said releasable means in released condition.

26. in apparatus as defined in claim 22: and means providing a-sealed relation between said running tool and body to enable fluid pressure to be imposed on said running tool to cause said running tool to impose a downward force on said actuating sleeve.

27. ln apparatus as defined in claim 22: said groove having an upper tapered side engaged by said lock dogs to exert a downward force on said packing unit increasing its sealing force against said housing and body; and means providing a sealed relation between said running tool and body to enable fluid pressure to be imposed on said running tool to cause said running tool to impose a downward force on said actuating sleeve.

28. ln a packer: a tubular member having an internal circumferential groove; a body member within said tubular member; one of said members having stop means; a supporting body movable along said body member; packing means carried by said body and spaced initially from said stop means and movable between said body member and tubular member into engagement with said stop means; lock means carried by said body; and actuating means carried by said body and engageable with said lock means to expand said lock means into said groove with said packing means engaged with said stop means.

29. In a packer as defined in claim 28: wherein one side of said groove is tapered, said lock means engaging said tapered side to exert a downward force on said body and packing means to increase the sealing force of said packing means against at least one of said members.

30., In a packer as defined in claim 28: wherein the upper side of said groove is tapered, said lock means comprising dogs shiftable laterally outwardly of said body and engaged with said tapered side to exert a downward force on said body and packing means to increase the sealing force of said packing means against said members; said actuating means comprising a sleeve shiftable downwardly behind said dogs to expand said dogs into said groove.

31. In a casing hanging assembly: a fixed housing having a lock groove; a hanger body to which a casing string is connectable for lowering in a well bore; means on said housing for supporting said body when said body is lowered therein; a running tool connectable to a tubular string, said running too] including first releasable means releasably connected to said hanger body for lowering said body into engagement with said housing supporting means; packing means for sealing between said body and housing; second releasable means releasably supporting said packing means from an operating tool; initially retracted lock means lowered .with said packing means in said housing; means for shifting said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing; and means for expanding said lock means laterally into said lock groove.

32. In apparatus as defined in claim 31: the upper side of said lock groove being ta cred, said lock means being expanded outwardly into sai groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing.

33. In apparatus as defined in claim 31: the upper side of said lock groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; said lock means being carried by said packing means; said operating tool lowering said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and alining said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove.

34. In apparatus as defined in claim 31: the upper side of said lock groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; said lock means being carried by said packing means; said operating tool lowering said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and alining said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove; said expanding means being shiftable downwardly by said operating tool to expand said lock means outwardly into said groove.

35. in apparatus as defined in claim 31: the upper side of said lock' groove being tapered, said lock means being expanded outwardly into said groove and engageable with said tapered side to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing; said lock means being carried by said packing means; said operating tool lowering said packing means into sealed relation to said body and housing and alining said lock means with said groove for outward expansion of said lock means into said groove; said expanding means being shiftable downwardly bysaid operating tool to expand said lock means outwardly into said groove; means providing a sealed relation between said operating tool and body to enable fluid pressure to be imposed on said operating tool to cause said operating tool to impose a downward force on said expanding means to force said lock means against said tapered side and force said packing means downwardly to increase the sealed relation of said packing means to said body and housing.

36. In apparatus as defined in claim 31: said lock means comprising dogs expandable laterally outwardly into said groove.

37. In a casing hanging assembly: a fixed housing having a lock groove; a hanger body to which said casing string is connectable for lowering in a well bore; means on said housing for supporting said body when said body is lowered therein with said body and housing providing a fluid passage therebetween; a running tool connectable to a tubular string; said running tool including latch dogs and a shiftable sleeve behind said dogs holding said latch dogs releasably connected to said body; lock means including a supporting cage, lock dogs carried by said cage, and an actuating sleeve; a'packing unit carried by said cage; means for moving said shiftable sleeve to a position permitting release of said latch dogs from said body;

'an operating tool supporting said cage, lock dogs, actuating sleeve, and packing unit and movable downwardly of said body to move said packing unit into said passage in sealed relation to said housing and body and to aline said lock dogs with said housing groove; and means on said operating tool engaging said actuating sleeve to move said sleeve against said lock dogs and expand them outwardly into said groove.

38. in apparatus as defined in claim 37: said groove having an upper taperedside engaged by said lock dogs to exert a downward force on said packing unit increasing its sealing force against said housing and body. 

